A long-running impasse between Steadfast and technology provider Ebix Australia took a sharp turn last weekend when the broker group’s members voted to effectively move to a single software solution.

At present most Steadfast members use the Ebix-owned WinBEAT system, which has no electronic interface with the Steadfast Virtual Underwriter (SVU) transaction platform.

WinBEAT interfaces with the Ebix-owned Sunrise Exchange and iClose platforms, as well as a number of third-party platforms.

Steadfast CEO Robert Kelly says industry software supplier BA Insurance Systems (BAIS) has offered to design software that would allow WinBEAT data to interface with BAIS software, which is compatible with the SVU. It’s understood there would be no charge for the solution.

He says members at the group’s pre-convention meetings in Sydney last weekend voted to move to a single software solution.

“We’ve been negotiating with Ebix for several years, and really we’ve got nowhere,” Mr Kelly told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

Ebix Australia has been a regular exhibitor at Steadfast conventions, but was not invited to participate this year. Mr Kelly declined to discuss the issue, but reliable sources have told insuranceNEWS.com.au the exclusion of Ebix was not – as Ebix suggested in a note to brokers before the convention – an oversight.

Ebix MD Leon d’Apice expressed surprise at the BAIS development when contacted by insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“We have been negotiating with Steadfast, and there are differences between us on the best way we should go about this,” he said.

“There are opposing technical and commercial aspects that need to be sorted, and the cost of developing an interface and providing ongoing support has not been settled.

“We are still in close contact with Steadfast and working with them on another project.”

Members at the pre-convention meeting also voted in favour of having insurers which support the SVU download their client renewals from Sunrise Exchange into the SVU platform.

These insurers are AIG, CGU Lumley, Vero, Zurich and Great Lakes via the Calliden platform.

Mr Kelly told insuranceNEWS.com.au the two insurers which don’t support the platform – understood to be Allianz and QBE – provide 28% of the group’s business pack products, but “we will move ahead with the support we have”.